Hope Island Marine State Park - Mason County

Hope Island Marine State Park is a special place to those who live in the greater Olympia-Shelton-Hoodsport area. These communities share their treasure with the hope that visitors approach the island with a sense of wonder.

The island can only be reached by watercraft – motorized, human- or wind-powered. Located near Steamboat Island in the Squaxin Passage, Hope Island's terrain is made up of Douglas-fir, cedar, hemlock, alder and maple trees. A wealth of tasty shellfish draws bald eagles and great blue herons. The park is popular with shellfish harvesters in season.

Beach walks and hiking trails allow for sightings of land-based wildlife too. Picnickers may enjoy their bounty in a historic orchard of fruit and nut trees planted by early homesteaders a century ago.

Needing an extra dose of Hope? Tie your boat at a mooring buoy or choose a primitive campsite and stay for the night in this special place.

Park features

Hope Island Marine State Park is a 132-acre, marine camping park in Mason County on Puget Sound. This island is only accessible by boat and is blanketed by forest and saltwater marshes.

Picnic & day-use facilities

The park provides four unsheltered picnic tables for day-use visitors. Garbage must be packed out when picnickers leave. Open fires are not permitted on the island. Water is not available, but two vault toilets are provided. Tables are available first come, first served.

Activities

Trails

2 miles of hiking trails

Water activities & features

Clamming

Fishing (saltwater)

Other activities & features

Beach exploration

Bird watching

Additional information

No fires are permitted at the park.

Dogs are not allowed on the island.

A recreational license is required for fishing and shellfish harvesting at Washington state parks. For regulations, fishing season information, or to purchase a recreational license, visit the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Campsite information

The park offers eight standard campsites. In addition, there is one Cascade Marine Trail site available to canoers and kayakers only. No open fires are permitted on the island. No water is available, but two vault toilets are provided. All campsites are first come, first served.

Check-in time is 2:30 p.m.Check-out time is 1 p.m.

Fees

Historical information

Hope Island was named by Commander Charles Wilkes in 1841. Wilkes was engaged in the mission of charting Puget Sound.

At the turn of the 20th century the Louis Schmidt Family established a homestead and orchard on the south end of the island. They constructed a farmhouse, several outbuildings, a windmill and excavated a shallow well. A small orchard consisting of fruit and nut trees (apples, pears, walnuts), supplemented the family diet. They also brought livestock to the island, cattle, horses, and fox, and maintained a 5‑ to 6‑acre vineyard on the southeast end producing Island Belles grapes which were sold to a winery on Hartstene Island. Furrows from the old vineyard can still be seen amidst the dense Douglas fir stand at the southeast end of the island and a few remnant vines can be found winding their way to the tree tops in search of sunlight.

Sarah and Robert Munn purchased Hope Island in 1943 for $20,000. Sarah and Robert had four children: Robert, Mary Pat, Allen, and Sally, and 10 grandchildren. Robert Munn died in 1954. Sarah Munn kept Hope Island as a vacation place and, though the Munn's never lived on the island, they visited it frequently, especially in the summers (Sebring, 1994). Sarah Munn died in May 1990 at age 97.